Federal judge strikes down Wisconsin’s ban on marriage equality

Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriages was struck down on Friday by a U.S. District Court judge, who ruled that it violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, WISN-TV reported.

“My review of that law convinces me that plaintiffs are entitled to the same treatment as any heterosexual couple,” Judge Barbara Crabb wrote (PDF). “I conclude that the Wisconsin laws banning marriage between same-sex couples are unconstitutional.”

The Crabb wrote that an amendment to the state constitution approved by voters in 2006 recognizing only marriages between men and women violated the “fundamental right to marry” of the eight couples who challenged it in the courts.

The ruling makes Wisconsin the 27th state to legalize marriage equality.

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Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt